ML20198D772

Withdraws 961122 Exemption Request from 10CFR70.24 Re Criticality Monitoring Requirements.No Commitments Made in Ltr

ML20198D772
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	12/15/1998
From:	Abney T TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
TAC-M97301, TAC-M97302, TAC-M97303, NUDOCS 9812230205
Download: ML20198D772 (2)

Text

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IM Tennessee Valley Authority, Post office Box 2000, Decatur, Alabama 35609-2000 December 15, 1998 10 CFR 70.14(a) 10 CFR 70.24(a) 10 CFR 70.24 (d)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 Gentlemen:

In the Matter of ) Docket Nos. 50-259 Tennessee Valley Authority ) 50-260 50-296 BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT (BFN) - UNITS 1, 2, and 3 -

WITHDRAWAL OF REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FROM 10 CFR 70.24 CRITICALITY MONITORING REQUIREMENTS (TAC NOS. M97301, M97302, AND M97303)

This is in response to NRC's November 19, 1998, letter which requested that TVA consider withdrawing BFN's November 22, 1996, request for an exemption from 10 CFR 70.24 requirements. TVA also responded to an NRC Request-for Additional Information (RAI) dated July 7, 1997, concerning the exemption request. The RAI response was provided on July 21, 1997, and provided additional justification for the exemption request.

Specific exemptions from 10 CFR 70.24 requirements were ,

I previously granted in the construction phase special nuclear material (SNM) licenses for each unit (SNM-1268,  ;

SNM-1434, SNM-1511). These exemptions were, however, not i carried forth when the Part 50 operating licensee 're l issued. TVA had previously requested an exemptic. .,m the l

subject criticality monitoring requirements in a lecter  ;

from R. L. Gridley, TVA, to NRC dated August 31, 1987. TVA g I

was later notified (reference: letter from R. A. Hermann, a c; )

NRC, to S. A. White, TVA, dated May 11, 1988) that an '

exemption request was not required. It was our understanding that NRC had subsequently determined that an l exemption should have been pursued. Without prejudicing lD ;

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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2

. D,ecember 15, 1998 TVA's position regarding the need for a specific exemption to 10 CFR 70.24 (a), TVA submitted the November 22, 1996, exemption request.

Based on the May 11, 1988, NRC letter informing TVA that no exemption is required and the alternative requirements provided in the recently issued 10 CFR 50.68 (b) rule, TVA hereby withdraws the November 22, 1996, exemption request.

There are no commitments in this letter. If you have further questions about this subject, please telephone me at (256) 729-2636.

Spicere' ,.

T. . 'ney Manager o icens' g and dustry Afftirs cc: Mr. arold O.Ichristensen, Branch Chief U.S. egulatory Commission 61 Forsyth Street, S. W.

Suite 23T85 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 NRC Resident Inspector Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Route 12, Box 637 Athens, Alabama 35611 Mr. L. Raghavan, Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint, North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852

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